Transformable earring

ABSTRACT

An earring which can be transformed from a button-like type to a pendant-like type comprises two hinged elements which can be either closed or opened.

The present invention refers to a transformable earring.

In the field of jewelry and costume jewelry, conventional earrings aredifferentiated into two basic classes, a first class so-called"button-like", in which the jewel has a compact shape and is directlyapplied onto the ear lobe by means of a clip, a stud or the like, and asecond class so-called "pendant-like", in which the earring comprises apart hanging on a support, to be applied to the ear by means of any oneof the above mentioned fasteners.

Conventionally, the earrings are all produced in a separate manneraccording to the first or the second above mentioned class.

An object of the present invention is to provide an earringtransformable from a "button-like" type to a pendant-like type, and viceversa, thus enabling the different requirements of the public to be metwith one single jewel.

The earring of the present invention comprises:

a fixed element; a movable element having an aperture therethrough, thefixed and movable elements being hingedly connected at a lowermostportion of the fixed element, so that the movable element can rotate toassume a closed position adjacent to the fixed element forming abutton-like type of earring, and an open position in which the movableelement freely hangs below the fixed element forming a pendant-like typeof earring; and a fastener mounted on the fixed element for releasablylocking the earring to the ear lobe of a wearer, the fastener extendingthrough the aperture in the closed position of the movable element and,when released, being free from interference with the movable element inthe rotation thereof to its open position.

The present invention will be further illustrated by the followingdescription of an embodiment, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an earring accord to the invention ina closed "button-like" condition;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the earring in FIG. 1 during thetransformation from the closed button-like condition to the openpendant-like condition;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the earring in FIG. 1 transformedinto the open pendant-like condition;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view, in an enlarged scale, of theearring in FIG. 1, illustrating the system of transformation from theclosed button-like condition to the open pendant-like condition, andvice versa;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the earring in FIG. 1 in the closedbutton-like condition; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the earring in FIG. 1 in the openpendant-like condition.

Referring to the drawings, an earring, as an embodiment of the presentinvention, is a combination of a first or fixed element 1 to be appliedto the ear lobe, for example by means of a spring fastener or clip 2,mounted on its rear face, and a second or movable element 3 pivotallyconnected to a lowermost part of the first fixed element by means of ahinge 4. With the fixed and movable elements 2 and 3 in the closedcondition, the second element cooperates with the first one to form theornamental pattern of the earring in the button-like modification, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

When the transformation of the earring from the button-like type to thependant-like type is wished, the clip 2 is moved from the operatingposition, in which it was blocking the movable element 3 on the fixedelement 2, to the turned back position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Themovable element 3 is then rotated backwards around the hinge 4 until itrests in the hanging condition shown in the FIGS. 3 and 6.

By an inverse operation it is possible with ease and when desired, tobring the earring of the invention back from the open pendant-likeposition to the closed button-like condition.

It will be appreciated that an opening is provided in the body of themovable element 3, such as indicated in 5 on FIG. 4, for the passage ofthe fastening clip, mounted on the fixed element 2, during the downwardsor upwards rotation of the movable element 3 for the transformation ofthe earring from a button-like to a pendant-like type or vice versa.

It is also to be appreciated that for fixing the earring to the ear lobeany known fastener can be provided on the fixed element 1, other thanthe clip of the present embodiment, such as a stud to be inserted in abore made in the ear lobe.

The present invention is not restricted to the embodiment as described,and it comprises equivalent modifications.

I claim:
 1. A transformable earring formed of a fixed element (1),having a front side and a rear side, and a movable element (3) having anaperture (5) therethrough, said fixed and movable elements beinghingedly connected at a lowermost portion of the fixed element, so thatthe movable element (3) can rotate about said hinged connection betweena closed position to assume the form of a button-like type of earringand an open position in which the movable element (3) is pendent on thefixed element (1) to form a pendant-like type of earring; and a fastener(2) mounted on the rear side of said fixed element (1) for releasablylocking the earring to the ear lobe of a wearer,said fixed elementhaving said fastener thereon disposed in operative relationship to allowthe rotation of said movable element to said open position through aspace on the rear side of said fixed element whereby said fastenerpasses through said aperture with no interference between said fastenerand said movable element, and wherein there is interference between saidmovable element and fixed element in said closed position to prevent themovable element from passing to the front side of the fixed element. 2.Earring according to claim 1, in which said fastener is a clip.